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After a very pleasant award flight on Iberia Business Class from ORD-MAD and then another one from MAD-FCO, I met up with my girlfriend and we hopped in a taxi to the hotel. Roughly 30 minutes later, and paying a flat rate of 48 Euros we had arrived. I was VERY EXCITED for my first ever St Regis stay. Buongiorno St Regis Rome!
The St. Regis Rome is absolutely stunning, and restored to its former grandeur after more than a $40M renovation. Bellhops quickly grabbed our bags and we were whisked over to check-in. While the St. Regis Rome can be booked for 60k Marriott Rewards until March of 2019, we opted to book via Virtuoso via Josh King for 400 Euros. While this is more than we’d usually like to pay, it was our only paid nights on a 9 night trip through Europe, and considerably less than the normal 700+ Euro the hotel typically charges. Booking via Virtuoso we would also increase our chances of an upgrade, plus get free breakfast, and a $100 credit for food and beverage.
During check-in we were informed that we had been double upgraded to a piazza view Imperial Room. Prior to arrival I had checked and that room was selling for 777 Euros a night. Over $1000 when all was said and done. Fantastic.
The Deets:
- When: December 2018
- Where: St Regis Rome
- Room: 339
- Status: Gold
- Booked with: Virtuoso – 400Euro
- Upgrade: Standard to Imperial Piazza view
- Marriott Category 8 ( 60k until March 2019, 85k thereafter
- Don’t’ forget 5th night free.
First Impression
I’ll preface by saying that I had stayed across the Piazza della Republica at the then Boscolo Roma, now the Dedica in 2016 and had loved it. In fact, up until 2 days prior to arrival we’d been booked in there, but then the St Regis dropped rates. The Dedica is gorgeous and in 2016 was much more aesthetically pleasing than the St Regis. In 2016 the St. Regis was dated, worn, and in dire need of a top to bottom refresh.
Mission accomplished. The hotel absolutely stuns the moment you arrive. The exterior has been sandblasted, the small courtyard is vibrant, and the moment you pass through the front doors your jaw will drop. The prestigious design firm, PYR was in charge of the renovation and, true to form, they nailed it.
The room:
What an upgrade. While I can’t imagine being disappointed with any of these newly renovated rooms, the Imperial with a Piazza view is phenom: large, with a small sitting area, walk in closet, and drop dead gorgeous floor to ceiling marble bathroom.
The shower had great pressure, as well as two showerheads depending on if you wanted to use the rain feature or not. Products are a mix of their own plus Labortoire Remede, and one of the best and most used was the lip balm. Traveling in December with quite a bit of wind made for quick drying hands, face, and our course lips.
Service:
Upon arrival, after our bags had arrived, we were welcomed with the champagne, pannatone, and Italian sweets. The hotel also provides 4 bottles of complimentary water – such a nice touch.
Our tour guide notified us late the night of our arrival that our 2 tours booked for the next two days needed to be canceled. The reason? Tickets were sold out at the Vatican Museum and Coliseum. We phoned the concierge at 10pm, and shortly after breakfast, around 9:30 am he informed us that a guide would be at the hotel at 11am and they’d confirmed tickets.
How’s that for a hook up?
We also thoroughly enjoyed the nightly 7pm Champagne sabering. This was a first St Regis for us both, and we attended this celebration every night. It’s a throw back to Napoleon we famously said, “ Champagne: In victory we deserve it; in defeat we need it.”
Food
Breakfast is served in the main lobby of the hotel, up the stairs and behind the bar. Virtuoso provides buffet breakfast, and it was quite nice. There are plenty of pastries, fruit, hot and cold dishes as well as an omelet/egg station. I’d place the breakfast somewhere near a typical Asian Club level offering; however, the variety of options aren’t on the same level as a 5 star Asian buffet breakfast. Tasty nonetheless
We also dined in the lobby our last night of our stay. Presentation was great and the pasta was absolutely delicious. In fact, I’d guess you could nearly eat here twice for the dining credit Virtuoso affords.
Fitness Facility
Located on the top floor of the hotel which we accessed via the legacy elevator – I’d highly recommend riding it just for giggles.
Overall:
The standard of service as well as the beauty of the hotel are truly top notch with an always present, but never noticed dedication to service. I would HIGHLY recommend this property, especially if you can score it for just 60k Marriott Rewards a night. Even if you ultimately don’t stay at the St. Regis, I would recommend dining in the lobby, enjoying the grandeur of the restoration and escaping the world for a while. Also…check out the staircase that’s just inside and to the left. Incredibly beautiful, but check that ceiling fresco.
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Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
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Annual Fee
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Supporting Cast:
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